Getting Rockette legs

Ben Torres, For the Chicago Tribune

Stand straight with your feet under your hips. If you have a Thera-band, place it around the outside of both ankles so your feet are inside. (Get one for $15 at thera-band.com. They are color-coded to your level, so if you're a beginner, get the red one. If you don't have one, you can do the exercise without it.)Starting with your right leg, extend it straight forward to the maximum height the Thera-band will allow. Pulse and lift here 8 to 10 times. Repeat the exercise to the side and to the back and then switch to the left leg. Hands can be placed on your hips. This exercise also challenges your balance, which works your core muscles.

Stand straight with your feet under your hips. If you have a Thera-band, place it around the outside of both ankles so your feet are inside. (Get one for $15 at thera-band.com. They are color-coded to your level, so if you're a beginner, get the red one. If you don't have one, you can do the exercise without it.)Starting with your right leg, extend it straight forward to the maximum height the Thera-band will allow. Pulse and lift here 8 to 10 times. Repeat the exercise to the side and to the back and then switch to the left leg. Hands can be placed on your hips. This exercise also challenges your balance, which works your core muscles. (Ben Torres, For the Chicago Tribune)

In dancer lingo, these are known as eleves. Heels can be lifted with feet parallel hip-width apart, or you can turn out to first position (heels touching, toes apart) to work those deep lateral rotators buried in your gluteus maxims.For added challenge, find a chair for balance and try single-leg calf raises (same exercise but one leg at a time).

In dancer lingo, these are known as eleves. Heels can be lifted with feet parallel hip-width apart, or you can turn out to first position (heels touching, toes apart) to work those deep lateral rotators buried in your gluteus maxims.For added challenge, find a chair for balance and try single-leg calf raises (same exercise but one leg at a time). (Ben Torres, For the Chicago Tribune)